A city with a lengthy history and one with no shortage of culture-shaping events, Pisa is chockfull of worthy sights. Those visitors looking to take home some gems for their photo albums certainly will not be disappointed by the city’s selection of buildings, monuments and cultural exhibits.

Botanical Gardens
Pisa’s botanical gardens or Orto Botanico di Pisa, are conveniently situated close to the Leaning Tower, reachable from the latter in just a few minutes walk. Established in the 1540s, these are Europe’s oldest gardens of this kind and offer visitors views of interesting plant specimens collected from across the globe. Guided tours are available from the Pisa University of which the gardens are a part or can be explored independently.

Camposanto
Camposanto, the Cemetery, is a giant walled graveyard located a short distance north of the Duomo. The cemetery was initially built as a place in which to house holy soil taken from the site of Christ’s crucifixion and brought there in 1278. The cemetery building houses some splendid 14th century frescoes and a Greek vase said to have originated from the 2nd century BC; the majority of artistic treasures were however destroyed from a WWII air raid.

Church of St Francis
This magnificent ecclesiastical structure hailing from the 13th century was the work of architect Giovanni di Simone. Following its initial construction, there were further additions made to in 1343 in the form of two new chapels. Worthy of note among its present architectural features, are the belfry, nave and cloister. Some fine artwork can also be viewed inside the church with pieces by Santi di Tito, Taddeo Gaddi and Jacopo da Empoli. The Count of Donoratico, Ugolino della Gherardesca is buried in the church alongside the remains of his sons.

Leaning Tower of Pisa
No trip to the city would be complete without seeing this world famous building which many do not know is actually the bell tower of the Duomo cathedral complex. The tower, which was constructed in 1173, began to lean from a very early age due to poorly laid foundations. It’s possible to get inside the tower which has a lengthy climb to the top from which some pretty good views across the area are possible.

Museo delle Sinópie
If you are interested in how all the intricate details of the old Renaissance frescoes that line the walls of Pisa’s religious buildings, came to fruition; then this is undoubtedly the museum for you. A collection of drawings/sketches that were used as preliminaries for the actual masterpieces, are exhibited at the museum, with copies of the final frescoes displayed alongside, allowing visitors to see the progression from concept to final execution.

Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Pisa)
After the Leaning Tower, this is arguably second on a list of Pisa’s must-see buildings. Situated adjacent to the Tower it’s a structure that’s nearly a thousand years old and is without a doubt a masterpiece of architectural design. A somewhat non-ornate interior is made dramatic by its Renaissance frescoes dating largely from the 16th century. Among the areas and features worthy of note are the pulpit, the tomb of Emperor Henry VII, a 13th century mosaic by Cimabue and the 400-year-old bronze angel statues that hang with splendour over the entrance to the choir.

Piazza dei Cavalieri
One of the city’s most important and grand piazzas; the Piazza dei Cavalieri was initially the work of Giorgio Vasari, dating back to 1560. It offers visitors a variety of wonderful sights and indeed some fantastic photo opportunities. Among the highlights are the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri and Palazzo dell'Orologio; both architecturally stunning structures. The piazza has special historical significance as it was once the seat of the Order of the Knights of St Stephen. From the piazza, the knights were able to organise themselves to offer defensive against possible attacks from the Turks.

Enjoy a guided tour. If you want to view the famous Leaning Tower, the other fantastic buildings of the Duomo and the city’s wealth of fascinating sights, with the addition of a little background information on each site; then relieve yourself of the effort of having to make your own way between such places by taking a one-day guided tour. Tours visit all the most popular sights and have English speaking guides who provide historic backgrounds on each of the locations visited. This is the perfect option for those staying in neighbouring cities and wishing to make single day’s trip to Pisa.

Take a boat ride on the Arno River. Pisa’s maritime history is infamous and features many a conflict with rivalling port cities, Venice and Genova. Visitors can get some sense of the city’s relationship with its waterways via a one-hour boat ride along the Arno River, taking in some fantastic architectural scenery en route. Typically, boat trips make four stops as follows; first at a mooring close to Piazza S. Paolo a Ripa D'Arno, second at Via Roncioni at the Lungarno Mediceo, third at Piagge and fourth finally at Renaioli,

Take a walk through historic Pisa. The true sense and feeling of a city that dates back to Roman and Etruscan times can be gotten by taking a pleasant stroll through the narrow, meandering streets of central Pisa. As you make your way from the Field of Miracles towards the Piazza dei Cavalieri, take in the fine medieval and Renaissance architecture en route before heading in the direction of Piazza Garibaldi on the Arno River.